Motor-control system.



J. E. BRoBsT.,

MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1912.

1,043,799. Pnted N0v.12,1912.

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J. E. BROBST.

MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED 1311.24, 1912.

, 1,043,799., f Patented Nov.12,1912.

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y 'W A :JOHN Ef Bz-40155111, /Q NMi/L@ .Torriv Ennos'r, or scHENEcT'AnY, NEW YORK, AssrGNoE-'ro GENERAL ELECTRIC- COMPANY, CORPORATION OF NEW YR-V Moron-CONTROL .sYs'rEnL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Novfie, 1912.

` Application ined April a4, i912. serial No. $92,957.

To all 'whom may concern. v

Be it' known that I, JOHN E. BRoBsT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State lof New York, have invented certain new and' useful Improvements in MotonControl Systems, of which the following is a specid fication.

My invention relatesto the control of electric motors and has for its object the [provision of means whereby an electric motor may be. started, stopped and generally controlled in a reliable, simple an defiicient manner. v

The invention relates more specifically to the ecn-trol of reversible electric motors, one ofthe objects of my invention being to provide kmeans whereby an electric motor may be quickly stopped and its direction of rotationv reversed. y

While my invention may be of general application, I havefound that it is particularly useful in connection with such mechanisms as planers, printing presses and the like, in which the direction of movement of a heavy mass must be reversed periodically. It is essential that this class of machines be brought to rest uickly and'with ,certainty and then startedl in an opposite direction with a minimum strain upon the apparatus.`

To this end I connect 4the electric motor Adirectly and positively to the machine to be driven and provide means whereby the moi tor is periodically stopped and reversed. In

` rection.

the use of these machines, as, for instance, in the case of 'a planer, the operation is controlled by a master switch which is operated at .or near the limit of movement in each di- This switch `changes the connections so that the motor will be reversed but of course this rreversal cannot take place immediately since the motor armature and the bed of the planer which-.have considerable inertia must first be stopped. It has been found that the motor which moves the bed of a planer or similar machine may be effectively stopped by dynamic braking.y or the mot-or, that is, by cau'smg the motor to act as a'generator and deliver current.

One of the objects of my invention'is to provide improved means for dynamically braking the motor so as to bring it to rest quickly and without injury either to the` m0- tor, as for instance by sparking on the commutator, or to any other parts 'of the apparatus. 1

In -the operation of planers and the like it 1s customary-to have the bed of the machine run faster on its return strokey when no work is' being done than' on the forward stroke when the cut is being taken. It is also customary to provide means for adjusting the speed to the character of the material worked upon and the depth of cut. Where the planer is driven by an electric' motor this variation in spee is best accomplished Vby varying the field strength of the motor, so that normally the motor will ybe running upon aweakened field. When, however, the

motor4 is to be stopped by dynamic braking tive effect .of the field circuit. If, therefore,

the dynamic braking circuit is so adjusted that the armature current will be the maxlmum that the motor is ableto handle without sparking at the moment when the dynamic .braking begins, the current will be considerably smaller than the armature is able tohandle when the field hasy built up to its maximum strength. In accordance ywith my. invention, therefore, I control the armature current in accordance with the field strength so as to avoid sparking at the brushes when the dynamic'braking circuit is closed, and l,at the'same time obtain a maximum braking effect by'increasing the armature current 'when the field builds up' to its full strength.- In this way I am enabled to bring the motor and the load which drives to rest in the shortest'practicable time after the`-dog on 'the planer bed is operated to reverse the switch.

In one embodiment vof my invention the initial .dynamic braking current is produced by returning energy to the line, thatis, in-

stead of actually cutting olf the line and generating current through a short circuit around lheA armature, the motor is left connected to the line and the strengthening of 5 the field upon the throwing of the reverserator and by generating an electromotive force higher than the impressed electromotive force returns energy to the line, thereby 1g) gradually slowing down the motor armature due to the braking eect. The arrangement is such that during this cycle the braking current'will be kept relatively low in some manner as for instance by including ai resistance in the braking circuit. This brak-V in eifect is being produced while the field is uilding up. `When the field has reached a predetermined strength I provide means whereby the braking current is automatically 2() increased. This increase in current I produce in one embodiment of my invention by causing the motor to be disconnected from the line and short circuiting it upon `itself through a resistance. This change of braking conditions is caused to take place aut-omatically by a relay connected in the field circuit which upon the field obtaining a predetermined strength will operate. to automatically effect the desired connections.I In another embodiment of my .invention the initial braking current is produced by cutting off the line and generating current through a short circuit around the armature which includes a brake resistance. When the field reaches a predetermined strength a section of the resistance is short circuited so-as to increase the braking current.

@ther objects and purposes of my invention will appear in the course of the following specification in which I have sh'own my invention embodied in concrete form for purposes of illustration.

In the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated my invention diagrammatically, Figure 1 shows one embodiment and Fig. 2 shows a modification thereof.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, A represents the armature, S the series commutating pole winding, and S the shunt field winding of an electric motor of standard form. In the present instance I have shown this motor equipped for driving a machine such as a planer or the like, the moving element of which, B, operates the reversing switch B in the ordinary manner. This switch is of the double pole type and in onevposition connectsthe positive side of the line with wires 10 and 11 and in the other position connects the positive side of the line with wires`12 and 13. This switch B controls two electromagnetic reversing switches C and D having "actuating windings 14 and 15, respectively. -The switch C is provided with interlocks 16, 17 and i8, and the switch D is provided with similar interlocks 19, 20 and 21. These inlng switch causes the mot-or to act as a gen-I terlocksare for the purpose of insuring that switches C and D will not both be closed at the same time and for bringing about certain other operations hereinafter described'. The switch C has two switch members 22 and 23 for connect-ing the motor to the line for one direction of rotation, while the switch D has similar switch members 24 and 25 for connecting the motor to the line for the opposite direction of rotation. For short circuiting the motor on itself, I provide an electromagnetic switch or brake contactor consisting of the winding 26 and the switch member 27. .This brake contactor is also provided with a switch 28 for opening the line independently of the switches 22 and 25. The winding 26 of the brake contactor can only be energized when the switches C and D are both in their open position, since it is energized through the interlocks 17 and 20. A starting resistance R is controlled by the counter electromotive force relay 29 provided with four interlocks 30, 3l, 32 and 33. When the relay 29 operates, due to the speeding up of the motor, either one or the other of switches 34 and 35 'will be closed by its respective winding 36 or 37. With the switch B in the position shown in the drawing the'winding 36 will be energized through-wire 11, interlock 33,

and interlock 16 on the switch C. If the" switch B is moved to the opposite position, the winding 37 of the switch 35 will be energized through wire 13, interlock 32, on the counter electromotive force relay and interlock 19 on the reversing switch D.

Assuming that the motor is at `rest and that the switch 42 is closed, it willbe noted that the shunt field winding S is connected in circuit with the mains through switches 38 and 39 and the winding of relay 40, the function of which will be hereinafter described. If now, switch B is thrown in the position shown in the drawing, a circuit will be closed from the positive side of the line through the conductor 10,' the energizing winding of the switch C, the interlocking contacts 21 on the switch D and the interlocking contacts 31 on thefcounter electromotive force relay to the other side of the line. The switch (l will, therefore, be operated nto close the switch members 22 and 23 and this will connect the armature circuit with the motor to the line as follows: Starting from the positive side of the line, the switch E being closed the circuit leads through switch member 22, resistance R, commutating pole winding S, armature A, switch members 23, and thence through switch 28' to the negative side of the line. The motor will, therefore, start and as soon as it has reached er predetermined speedthe counter electromotive force relay 29 wil operate to open* the interlock 3l and closelin.4 terlocks 30, 32 and itI The opening of intei-lock 31 -dbes not denergize 'the winding 14 of ,the switch C because this Switch inc perating closes a maintaining 'circuit through the upper cont-acts ofrthe interlock' vlldirectly to the negative side of the line. The closing of the interlock 33 completes a. circuit. from thepositive side of theline through conductor 11, interlock 16 on the switch Cto the winding 36 of the switch 34, and thence to the negative side'of the line. This causes the switch 34 to be closed,

cutting out the resistance R in the armature circuit. At the same time the switch 38vis opened and a resistance 1' isincluded in the the purpose of regulating the speed at which the motor drives the bed of the planer forg ward. j

The'vwinding of the relay 40 will be constantly energized While the motor is in operation since ty is included in the field circuit of the mo'or, and thefield of this relay is so adjusted that when the field is at full strength, that is, when the full current- Awhich the motor field is designed to carry, is-fiow ing, the relay will be operated to open the switch 41, but when the field is weakened by the introduction of the field resistance in the field circuit, this relay will drop and close the switch 41. When the motor is started in either one direction or the other, the field will always be at full strength', as hereinafter pointed out, and the switch 41 of the relay will be opened. When, however, either the resistance ror the resistance r is introduced into the field circuit yby the operation of the switches 38 or 39, upon the lifting of the counter electromotive force relay, the relay 40 will drop and close the switch 41. The operation of this-relay, how-- ever, during starting, does not affect the operative conditions in any way. When, however, the motor is brought to its full speed condition and the switch 41 closes, a new circuit is established for the winding 14 of the switch C which is independentofthe switch B and is dependent entirely upon the switch 41. This circuit is from the positive side of the line through the switch 41, wire 44, interlock 17, winding 14, interlock 18, wire 43, to the negative side of the-line. The energization of the switch C after the/ motor comes up to full speed is therelore` under the entire control of the switch of the field relay 40.

Assuming now that the motor is running at full speed in the forward direction with the resistance 1' in series with the shunt field ,and the field relay 41 closed. When the bed of the planer reaches the limit of its travel, the switch. B will be moved to its opposite position so as tdenergize 'wires 12 and 13' and denergize wires 10 and 11. The denergization of the wire 10hasno effecten the switch C, but the denergization of wire 11 causes the winding 36 to be denergized, thereby allowing the switch 34 to open and switchl 38 to close. Thishas the effect of connecting the resistance R .into t-he motor armature circuit and short circuiting theresistancerwhich was connected in the field circuit. lThe strengthening of the eld due "to the short circuit-ing of the resistance r causes the motor to be automatically braked, since the inertia o'f the armature and of the bed of the planer will cause the motor to act as a generator andA pump back into the line through the resistance R, assuming, of course,that the shrt circuiting ofthe resistance r increases the field strength of the motor to such an extent that the counter or generated electromotive force is higher than the' line or impressed electromotive force.

The braking action takes place gradually due to the fact that it takes time for the field current to reach its maximum value because vthe field circuit is an inductive circuit. TheL current in the field circuit rises gradually' when the resistance is cut out and the pump back current begins at zero and gradually increases, the rate of increase -de- ,pending upon the coefiicient of self-induction of the field circuit and the reduction in speed of the motor. The fact that the motor is'operating as a generator tends to retard the speed of the armature and this in turn tends to decrease the generated electromotive force, consequently thebraking current will reach the maximum value for this portion of the cycle when the rate of increase of the generated electromotive force due to the increased field current equals the rate of decrease due to reduction in speed. From this point on, the current will decrease. I therefore, soy adjust the value of the resistance r that the generated current will reach zero Value justa before the field has attained its full strength. At some point after the maximum valueis reached and before the zero value is reached, thefield will have attained such astrength as toprevent sparking at a relatively high armature current and at this point the relay coil 40 will be sufficiently energized to operate to- -open the switch 41.*' The opening of switch 41 causes the winding 14 of the switch C to be denergized and this disconnects the motor from the line at the switches/'22 and 23. The opening ,of the switch C causes thewindinnf 26 of the brake contactor to be energized through Kthe interlocks 17, 2O and 30 so that the switch 27 will now be closed to short circuit the motor armature uoon itself through the resistance R and a second resistance R. Ther value of the resistances Rand R is such as to permit the. braking current to rise to the limit of p negative side of the line.

creased to a maximum Value as soon as the field has built up to its maximum value. The first cycle of the braking operation is performed by returning energy to the line, while the second cycle is performed by disconnecting the line and short circuiting the motor on itself. It is obvious, of course, that it is not essential to my invention that the irst braking operation be performed in the manner described, but may be performed in any other wellknown manner, the essentiale feat-ure of my invention being that the braking current is rst relatively low and is then increased automatically when the field is strong enough to stand it.

The heavy dynamic braking current which flows when the armature is short circuited quickly stops the motor and when its speed has fallen to a predetermined value depending upon the adjustment of the coun terelectromotive force relay 29 this relay will be denergized, opening interlocks 30, 32 and 33 and closing interlock 31. As interlock 30 is opened winding 26 will be denergized thus causing switch 27 to open the armature short circuit and switch 28 to close. As interlock 31 closes, winding 15 will beenergized through a circuit from the positive main through switch B', wire 12, winding 15, interlock 18 on switch C, interlock 31 and thence to the Switch D will therefore close connecting the armature circuit of the motor to the line s o that current flows in the opposite direction and reverses the direction of rotation of the motor. The motor will be started and brought up to speed as before by the operation of the relay 29, the winding 37 this 4time beingenergized instead` of 36. Resistance R will again be cut out of the armature circuit and the resistance r will be inserted in the field circuit. This resistance 7" is, as above stated, of higher value than the resistance 7 so that the return movement will be at a greater speed than the forward movement.

vIt is understood, of course, that these resistances lr and r may be adjusted as desired so as to give the speeds required. @rdinarily there will be'very little occasion for varying the speed of the return stroke since the machine is doing no work. In some cases, however, this might be desirable and I have shown this resistance as being variable. This resistance lr', however, should of necessity be variable, since the cutting speed willdepend upon the nature of the material, depth of cut, ets. At the end of the return -.of my invention, the modification consisting broadly in substituting for the irst dynamic brakin step i-n which the braking effect is prot uced by returning energy to the line, means for short circuiting the armature through a resistance in the first step, as is done in the case of the second step but through a higher resistance. In other words,

the first dynamic breaking step is accomlv plished by short circuiting the armature through a highresistance and, when the field builds up a section of the braking resistance is automatically cut out suffi- -Ziently to give the maximum braking current that the motor can handle. In this` form of my invention it will be noted that I have provided an additional contactor F for short circuiting a resistance section R' which contactor is energized by the relay f7 which corresponds to the relayflO in Fig. 1. In this case, however, the switch member 48 of the relay is no'rmally open when the relay is denergized instead of being nor mally'closed, as in Fig. 1. It will be noted "also that the switches C and D have one less interlock since it is'now unnecessary that holding circuits be provided through the relayfl?. The switches C and D will therefore be controlled entirely through the switch B. Therefore, when the switch B is thrown over, the contactors C', or D whichever one happens to be up, will drop out and he brake contactor 27 will close. In this case I have also employed a series coil 50 on .the brake contactor so as to hold the brake contacter closed until the motor has come substantially torest.

The operation of this form of my device brieiy described is as follows: When the switch B is in the position shown in the drawing the line contactor C will be energized through the wire 10, winding 14, interlock 21 on line switch D and interlock 31 on the counterelect-romotive force relay from the armature circuit and insert the resistance r in the field circuit. lVhen the end of the stroke is reached in this direction of so as to energize wires 12^and 13. This will dener'gize line switchC. so as tcdisconnect the motor from the line. At the same time the brake contacter arm V27 will be closed vby the energizing of the winding 26 through the interlocks 17 and 20. As in the casejof theyar'ra-ngement shown in Fig.'

l the ccntactor36. willv also drop out so as to insert the' resistance R in the armature circuit and -short circuit the. resistance r fro-m the field 'circuit so that the field strengtlnimmediately begins` to build up.

The braking current, however,l is relatively l smal-l at first, while the field is building up, since the two sections of resistance Rand R are vin the braking circhit. "When, however, the field builds up sufficiently the relay 47 will close to energize thecontactor F through the switch 48. This will shortcircuit the resistance R and increase the braking cur-` rent to maximum value. It should be noted that the arm v27 o-f the brake contactor isr first the opening of the circuit of the windingQG, opening switch 27 and closing switch 28,.,and then when interlock 3l closes per-k mitting the line contacter D to close to operate the motor in the opposite direction of rotation. Upon reversal the same operation takes place. In fact the whole arrangement is practically the same as that disclosed in Fig. l with the differences noted, namely, that the first braking step is not accomplished by returning energy to the line but by cutting cti' the line and short circuiting the armature through a sufficient-ly high resistance.

It will thus be seen that I have provided :in ,eflective means for bringing the motor toff'rest with a braking effect which is much `greater than would be feasible if the armature currentl had its maximum value when the braking circuit is first closed. This in addition to other features above described makes my arrangement extremely effective with reversing'mechanism of the type referred to. While I have described my invention as being in concrete form and as op-l erating in a specific mannerdn accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should'be understood that- I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, ,the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

.VVhat- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters latent of the United States, is

l. The combination with an electric motor, reversing mechanism therefor, and means controlled by the current in the field of the reversing mechanism therefor, means forproducing a Adynamic braking effect uponv said motor when the reversing mechanism is operated and means whereby the strength of said braking effect is caused to be dependent upon the field strength of the motor.

3. The combination with an electric motor, reversing mechanism Itherefor, means for producing a dynamic braking effect upon said motor when the reversing mechanism is operated, and means controlled by the current in the field of the motor for producing anv increased braking effect upon said motor. n l

4. The combinationwith an electric motor having a shunt field winding and means for weakening said field during normal operation, of reversing mechanism therefor, means for strengthening the field when the reversing mechanism is operated, and means whereby the armature of said motor is brought substantially to rest by a dynamic braking current which is automatically in.

creased as the shunt field strengthens.

5. The combination with an electric motor having a shunt field winding and means for weakening said fieldv during normal operation, of reversing mechanism therefor7 means for-'causing the field to strengthen when the reversing mechanism is operated so that the motor will act as agenerator and generate a braking current which gradually increases as the field strength increases and means for auto-matically increasing the braking current when the strengthof the field reaches a` predetermined maximum. j

6. The combination with an electric motor, of reversing mechanism therefor, means for causing said motor to act as a generator when the reversing mechanism is operated to generate a braking current which .is rela-v tively lwvvhen the field is Weak, a relay having -its energizing winding in the field circuit of the motor and means controlled thereby for automaticallyy increasing the braking current when the. motor field reaches la predetermined strength.

7. The combination with an electric motor, of reversing mechanism therefor, means for producing" a dynamic braking torque on the motor when the reversing mechanism is operated, an electromagnetic switch having its energizing winding in the" field circuit of the motor, and means controlled by said switch for increasing the dynamic braking torque on the motor.

8. The -combination with an electric motor, of reversing mechanism therefor, means fordynamically braking the motor when the reversing'mechanism is `operated by causing the motor to act as a generator and return current to the line, and means controlled by the strength of the field for disconnecting the line and short circuiting` the motor on itself.

F9. The combination with anv electric victor having a shunt held, means for weakciing said field during normal operation, a rr ersing mechanism therefor, means for dynamically braking the motor when the reversing switch is operated by strengthening the field and causing the motor to ac't as a generator and return current to the line, and

lmeans controlled by the current in the motor field for increasing the dynamic braking torque after the i'ield of the motor has built up.

10. The combination with an electric" motor, a' reversing switch therefor, means for producing a dynamic braking effectv upon said motor when the reversing mechanism is operated, meanscontrolled by the current in the field of the motor for producing an increased braking Ae'ect, 'and means for preventing the reversing connections from becominon o erative until the s eed ofthe motor armature is reduced to a predetermined value.

11. The combination with an electric motor having a shunt ield and means for weakening said eld during normal ,operation, a reversing mechanism therefor, means for strengthening the ield when' the reversing .mechanism is operated, means whereby the armature of said motor isl to rest by a .dynamic brought substantially brakingcurrent which is automatically increased as the shunt eld strengthens, and

means for preventing the reversing mechanism from becoming operative to y reverse the motor until the speed of the motor armature is reduced to a predetermined value. Y

12. The lcombination with an electric motor, an electromagnetic reversing mechanism therefor, a master switch for controlling said reversing mechanism, means for producing a dynamic braking eiiect on said motor when the master switch is operated,

means dependent upon the iield strength of the motor for increasing the dynamic braking effect and means whereby the reversing mechanism does not respond to the movement or' the master switch until the motor is brought substantially to rest by said dynamic braking..

13. The combination with an electric motor having a shunt field winding and means for weakening said field during nor mal operation, an electromagnetic reversing mechanism therefor, a master switch for controlling said mechanism, means whereby the shunt iield of the motor is strengthened when the master switch is operated so as to cause the motor to act as a generator and return current to thel line thereby .dynamically braking the motor, connections whereby the reversing mechanism is opened and the motor armature short circuited on itself when the shunt .field builds up, and connections whereby the reversing mechanism does not .close to reverse the motor in response to the movement of the master switch until the motor is brought substantially to rest by said'dynamic braking. Q

'14. The combination with an electric motor, of a circuit controlling switch therefor, an means controlled bythe current in the field of the motor forproducing a graduated ldynamic braking effect upon said motor when the switch is operated.

15. The combination with an electric motor, of a circuit controlling switch therefor, means for producing a dynamic braking effect upon said motor when the switch is operated, and means controlled by the current in the iield of the motor for producing a graduated braking effect upon said motor. a

16. The combination with an electric motor, of a circuit controlling switch therefor, means for producing a dynamic braking edect upon the motor when the switch is operated, an electromagnetic switch having its energizing winding in the field circuit of the motor, and means controlled by said electromagnetic switch for increasing the braking torque on the motor.

17. The combination with an electric motor having `a shunt iield winding and means for weakening said field during normal operation, of controlling mechanism therefor, means for strengthening the field t'iopies ci this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ol' Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

